Succession Planning and Cost Leadership of Hotels in Bayelsa State, Nigeria

This study investigates the relationship between succession planning and cost leadership in hotels in Bayelsa State, Nigeria. Ensuring business continuity and maintaining a competitive edge is paramount for survival and growth. Succession planning, a strategic human resource management function, is pivotal in achieving these objectives. The absence of robust succession plans in many hotels in the region has led to leadership vacuums, operational disruptions, and loss of competitive advantage. Consequently, there is a need to understand how effective succession planning can be leveraged to mitigate these challenges and foster sustainable competitive advantage. A cross-sectional survey was conducted, and a structured, quantitative questionnaire was distributed to 285 employees; 255 were successfully returned. We generated descriptive statistics using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences and tested the hypothesised relationships using Structural Equation Modelling (SEM) with AMOS 23.0. The findings reveal a positive and significant relationship between the dimensions of succession planning (career development and mentoring) and cost leadership. The study concludes that succession planning is significantly related to cost leadership among hotels in Bayelsa State, Nigeria. This research contributes to the body of knowledge on human resource management and strategic management in the hospitality industry. The findings are expected to provide valuable insights for hotel owners, managers, and policymakers in Bayelsa State to develop and implement effective succession plans that drive organisational performance and competitiveness.